Checkrein.



J. S. MIRGAN.

UHEUKREIN.

ArPpmATIoN FILED APK.12. 1909.

Patented NOV. 23, 1909.

JOSEPH S. MIEGAN, OF LANCASTER, OHIO.-

CHECKREIN.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH S. MIRGAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lancaster, in the county of Fairlield and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Checkrein, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to check reins such as used for holding up the head of a horse while in harness. Devices of this character such as heretofore employed have been objectionable because when the head is suddenly thrown upwardly the check rein is disengaged from its hook.

'lhe principal ob ect of the present invention is to so construct the check rein as to permit it to break at one or more points, during the sudden upward swinging of the horse's head, this breaking serving to prevent the rein from moving off the hook.

A further object is to provide a check rein which is made of short sections of leather and which will therefore be cheaper to manufacturethan a check rein made of a single length of leather.

W ith these and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and the combination of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings Figure l is a side elevation of the check rein in position upon a horse, the same illustrating the arrangement of parts when the head of the animal is swung upwardly. Fig. 2 is a plan view of a portion of the check rein.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, 1 designates a tab of leather having an opening therein to receive the hook 8 mounted on the harness saddle 4. This tab has a slot 5 through which extends the strap 6 having a buckle 7 whereby the length of the strap may be regulated as desired. One end of the strap is provided with a loop 8 engaging a coupling link 9 which is preferably rectangular in form as shown in Fig. 2 although it may if desired be in the form of a ring. This link is connected to another corresponding link 10 by means of a short leather strap 11 having loops 12 at the ends thereof in which the links are mounted and one of said links also engages a loop 13 Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 12, 1909.

Patented Nov. 23, 1909.

Serial N 0. 489,377.

formed at one end of the upper strap 14 of the check rein, said strap being connected to the bridle in the usual manner.

After the check rein has been adjusted to the proper length the tab 1 is placed in engagement with the hook 3 and said rein will thus hold the head of the animal properly supported. Should the horse throw his head upwardly the check rein Wlll fold as indicated in Fig. 1, this action occurring freely in view of the linkconnection between the straps 6, 11 and 14. There will therefore be practically no movement of the tab l'upon the hook and the two parts will remain in engagement.

it will be noted that the check rein instead of being formed of one length of leather as heretofore is made up of three short lengths and thetab l, the cost of the rein being thus materially decreased because it is thus possible to utilize the short lengths of straps which could not heretofore be employed for this purpose.

Of course it will be understood that various changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit or sacrificing the advantages of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A check rein comprising a hook engaging member, a strap pivotally connected thereto, a bridle engaging strap, an intermediate strap arranged to fold between the first mentioned straps, and link connections between the ends of the intermediate strap and the remaining straps.

2. A check rein consisting of a series of straps, connections between the straps, one of said straps being mounted to fold between the remaining straps, and a hook engaging tab pivotally connected to one of the straps.

3. A check rein including a hook engaging tab, a flexible end strap pivotally engaging the same, a flexible bridle engaging strap, each of said straps having a loop at one end, links mounted within the loops, and a flexible non-elastic intermediate strap having terminal loops engaging said links, and said intermediate strap being disposed to fold between the remaining straps, during the movement of said straps toward each other.

4. A check-rein comprising a hook-engaging member, a strap pivotally connected as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signathereto, a bridle-engaging strap, a non-elasture in the presence of two wltnesses.

tic intermediate strap arran 'ed to fold between the first mentioned sti'aps, and link JOSEPH MIRGAN' 5 connections between the ends of the interme- WVitnesses:

diate strap and the remaining straps. O. A. RADC-LIFFE,

In testimony that I claim the foregoing F. K. PUGH. 

